Closure for container



June 23, 1964 F. c. MORROW 3,138,315

CLOSURE FOR CONTAINER Filed Dec. 1, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I. a INVENTOR.F T FREDERICK c. MORROW ATTORNEYS June 23, 1964 Q o ow 3,138,315

CLOSURE FOR CONTAINER Filed Dec. 1, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

FREDERICK C. MORROW A M, F l6. 3 ATTORNEYS June 23, 1964 F. c. MORROWCLOSURE FOR CONTAINER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec.

C w v\ YT mm, H r I l I I i ll. Ill-'[Ill I I I I I ||l |l|'|l| w m a u2 mm om v vm x I I I l I I l Li I I l J N WM \x )I Q\ m \QM 3v NM 8v 3 WATTOR NE Y8 United States Patent 3,138,315 CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERFrederick C. Morrow, 638 S. Michigan St., Plymouth, Ind. Filed Dec. 1,1961, Ser. No. 156,391 Claims. (Cl. 229-7) The present invention relatesto a closure for a container and more particularly to a closure for abox, carton and the like.

Powdered and granular materials for household use are extensively soldin dispenser type cartons or boxes having some form of pour spout or lipin combination with a door or lid hinged to the carton or box at theside, top or bottom of the pour opening. One type extensively usedconsists of a trough-like metal chute hinged to the edge of the box orcarton at the bottom of a generally rectangular opening. While theposition of the opening is most convenient for holding the carton andpouring the contents therefrom, the metal chute-like closure isdifficult to open initially, often resulting in a ragged edge around theopening and/or displacement of the closure so that it does noteffectively thereafter close the opening. Further, in order to open theclosure, it is necessary to place a thin instrument, usually a finger orthumb nail beneath the closure and pry outwardly. This is not onlyhazardous but is unsanitary and may result in serious contamination ofany food products poured from the carton and injury to the user. It istherefore one of the principal objects of the invention to provide aclosure for a carton or box of the aforementioned type having anopening, which can easily be removed from the opening and replacedtherein without the use of any implement or finger nails, and which whenopen provides a well defined, readily used and convenient pour opening.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure for a pouropening in containers of the aforesaid type which is attached to thecontainer and is substantially flush with the external surface thereofwhen closed and which can be removed completely from the opening withoutdetaching it from the container.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a closure forcontainers of the foregoing type, which will remain open while thecontents are being poured from the container without being held open,yet which will automatically close and seat itself when initially nudgedtoward closed position and which will remain closed until intentionallyopened again by the user.

A further object is to provide a container-closure combination having anoriginal seal for preventing the container from being opened withouttell-tale evidence that the container has been tampered with, and forpreventing accidental displacement of the closure during shipping andhandling before sale, and which positively and effectively seats itselfwhen closed to prevent leakage of the container contents around theclosure as long as it remains closed, and will not open unaided when thecontainer is inverted.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a container such as that used for homedetergents, showing the closure removed for opening thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the container shown in FIGURE 1, showingin broken lines the closure in closed position;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the edge of the containershown in FIGURES 1 and 2, showing the closure in sealed position,illustrating the manner in which the container is sealed for shipment;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional ice view of thecontainer shown in the preceding figures, showing the closure in its'closed position, the section being taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view of theclosure, taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 3, showing the closure in its openposition;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of a completed blank from which the containershown in the preceding figures is made; and

FIGURE 7 is an edge elevational view of the container blank shown inFIGURE 6.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the container 10 shown inFIGURE 1 is a carton or box of generally conventional construction,produced from stiff paper, cardboard or the like, consisting of sides 12and 14 and ends 16 and 18 and top and bottom 20 and 22, respectively,secured together at their edges to form a completely enclosed containerhaving the present combination opening and closure therefor indicatedgenerally by numeral 24.

With the exception of the combination opening and closure therefor, thebox structure just described may be considered conventional for thepurpose of the present description, and may be of various sizes andshapes, although the type shown is used extensively for the sale ofpowdered and granular food preparations and detergents and the like.Referring to FIGURE 6, which illustrates the manner in which the presentcontainer is produced from a single sheet of stiff paper or cardboard,the two sides 12 and 14 and ends 16 and 18 are joined together andfolded therebetween along lines 26, 28 and 30 to form a rectangularenclosure. Flap 32 is folded along line 34 and is joined to the oppositeedge of side 12 along the internal surface thereof, to secure therectangular configuration formed by the two sides and ends together.Thereafter tabs 36 and 38 are folded downwardly and inwardly, followedby panels 40 and 42, the latter constituting the upper and outer surfaceof the box. Flaps 44 and 46 are folded inwardly and upwardly, followedby panels 48 and 50, the latter forming the lower external surface ofthe box. The flaps and panels are secured together by any suitable,hard-drying adhesive material which will securely hold the parts thereoftogether and the entire box in a rectangular, enclosed structure. Inorder to strengthen the joints between the top and bottom panels and theedge panels 16 and 18, flaps 52 and 54 at the upper end and flaps 56 and58 at the lower end extend upwardly over the edge panels 16 and 18 andare secured thereto, producing a leak-proof joint between the top panelsand the edges. Flap 52 serves an additional purpose which will be morefully explained hereinafter.

The pour opening 60 for the container is provided in the upper end ofedge 18, and in the preferred embodiment is round or substantially roundas shown in the drawings. It may be of various sizes, but preferably issufficiently small that a strengthening structure is provided on allsides of the opening in edge 18. Surrounding opening 60 is a recessedledge 62 which forms a seat for the closure, and is preferably formed byan insert 64 secured to the internal surface of edge 18, the insertbeing secured in place on the blank as shown in FIGURE 6 and securedthereto by any suitable adhesive material.

The closure 70 seats in opening 60 and cooperates with ledge 62 to forman effective seal for the container. This closure consists of adome-shaped body portion 72 and an annular flange 74 around the bodyportion and joined integrally thereto, the flange being adapted to seaton annular ledge 62. The largest diameter of body 72, i.e. the portion76 adjacent flange 74, is

substantially the same size, preferably slightly smaller than opening60, so that it Will pass inwardly readily and into the hole and permitflange 74- to seat effectively on ledge 62. The diameter of outer hole78, defining ledge 62, is preferably only slightly larger than theexternal diameter of flange 74 so that a relatively smooth surface willbe provided between the exterior surface of end panel 18 and theexternal surface of flange 74, and an additional retaining means isprovided between the flange and the edge of the opening to preventaccidental dislodgement of closure 70. In order to assist in removingthe closure from hole 69, a small handle or tab St) is provided acrossthe recessed portion 82 of the closure, the recessed portion followingthe contour of the domed body 72.

In order to seat and retain the closure in hole 60, a resilient means,such as a rubber member 84, is secured at one end to the closure by afixture 36 and at the other end to the upper panel 4% of the box. Themeans of securing the end of resilient member 84 to the box may be anumber of different structures, the one shown consisting of a hole 83through panel 42, through which the end of member 84 extends and a pin9% on the upper side of panel 42 above hole 38, the resilient member 84shown as a rubber band looped around fixture 86 and around pin 90. Anysuitable stretchable material may be used, including a small coiledmetal or plastic spring, or the like, which permits the closure to belifted from opening 60 and placed to one side as illustrated in FIG-PRES 1 and 5. In the form shown in the drawings, it IS preferable tosecure the resilient member to the box 1n the manner illustrated at thetime the box is assembled; however, various other types of securingmeans, including merely a tab on the internal surface of one of thepanels, may be used, and the resilient member can be secured theretoafter the box has been fully assembled and, if desired, filled, beforethe closure securing means is attached thereto. In the embodiment shown,pin 90 is positioned over hole 88 between panels 4% and 42. In securingthe pin and resilient member in place, the container may be assembledwith panel 42 secured in place and panel 49 in raised position. Aspecial tool extending through opening 60 projects the inner end of theresilient member through hole 88 for securing with pin 99.

As illustrated in FIGURE 3, tab 52 is preferably secured by a suitableadhesive to the external edge panel 18 with the lower edge thereofextending downwardly over a portion of closure 70, thus providing anadditional sealing or securing means for closure '79 while the box isbeing shipped and stored on the shelf. When it is desired to open thebox, the finger can be placed in recess 82 beneath tab 52 and the tablifted, breaking the seal provided thereby. The closure may then beeasily lifted from hole 60 to open the container. The sealing of closure70 by tab 52 provides tell-tale evidence if the container has beentampered with before it is received and opened by the ultimate user.

In the use of the present container closure combination, the user opensthe container by lifting tab 52, breaking the seal provided thereby, andgrasping handle or tab 89 and lifting the closure from hole of thussubstantially fully exposing the hole for the discharge of the contentsin the container. The closure, when lifted from opening 60, is placed atthe side as illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and 5 where it is held firmly bythe resilient member 84 urging the closure inwardly and the periphery offlange 74 against the periphery of hole 69, thereby retaining theclosure in a fixed position while the contents of the container arebeing poured therefrom. The closure will snap back into its fully closedposition by merely nudging it toward the opening, thereby permittingresilient member 84 to pull the closure inwardly into the hole and seatflange 74 firmly on ledge 62. The closure will remain in this positionuntil it is intentionally removed by the user.

While only one modification of the invention has been described indetail herein, various changes and modifications may be made to suitrequirements.

I claim:

1. In a container having an opening in an upper portion thereof: a panelmounted on the inner side of said portion and having a round holetherein smaller than said opening and in conjunction with said portionforming a recess around said hole, a closure of plastic material havingan inwardly protruding, dome-shaped body with a hemispherical recess onits external side, a handle extending across said body recess, alaterally extending annular flange joined integrally to and disposedaround the edge of said body for seating on said panel in said firstmentioned recess and around said hole, a fixture secured to the internalside of said body near one edge, and a rubber member disposed in saidcontainer and connected at one end to said fixture near one edge thereofand at the other end to the container in spaced relation to said holefor yieldably holding said closure in closed position.

2. In a container having two side and two end walls and top and bottom:means defining an opening in the upper portion of one of the end walls,a panel mounted on the inner side of said portion and having a holetherein smaller than said opening and in conjunction with said portionforming a recess around said hole, a closure having an inwardlyprotruding body with a recess on its external side, a radially extendingflange joined integrally to and disposed around the edge of said bodyfor seating in said first mentioned recess around said hole, and aresilient means disposed in said container and connected at one end tosaid body near one edge thereof and at the other end to the container inspaced relation to said hole for yieldably holding said closure inclosed position.

3. In a container having two side and two end walls and top and bottom:means defining an opening in the upper portion of one of the end walls,a panel mounted on the inner side of said portion and having a holetherein smaller than said opening and in conjunction with said portionforming a recess around said hole, a closure having an inwardlyprotruding body with a recess on its external side, a radially extendingflange joined integrally to and disposed around the edge of said bodyfor seating in said first mentioned recess around said hole, a rubbermember disposed in said container and connected at one end to said bodynear one edge thereof and at the other end to the container in spacedrelation to said hole for yieldably holding said closure in closedposition, and a flap attached to said container above said recess foroverlapping said closure for releasably holding said closure in closedposition.

4. In a container having two side and two end walls and top and bottom:means defining a round opening in the upper portion of one of the endwalls, a panel mounted on the inner side of said portion and having around hole therein smaller than said opening and in conjunction withsaid portion forming a recess around said hole, a closure having adome-shaped body with a hemispherical recess on its external side, ahandle extending across said body recess and a laterally extendingannular flange joined integrally to and disposed around the externaledge for seating on said panel in said first mentioned recess and aroundsaid hole, a fixture secured to the internal side of said body near oneedge, a resilient means disposed in said container and connected at oneend to said fixture near one edge thereof and at the other end to thecon tainer in spaced relation to said hole for yieldably holding saidclosure in closed position, and a flap attached to said container abovesaid recess for overlapping said closure.

5. In a container having two side and two end walls and top and bottom:means defining a round opening in the upper portion of one of the endwalls, a panel mounted on the inner side of said portion and having around hole therein smaller than said opening and in conjunction withsaid portion forming a recess around said hole, a closure of plasticmaterial having an inwardly protruding, dome-shaped body with ahemispherical recess on its external side, a handle extending acrosssaid body recess and a laterally extending annular flange joinedintegrally to and disposed around the external edge for seating on saidpanel in said first mentioned recess and around said hole, a fixturesecured to the internal side of said body near one edge, a rubber memberdisposed in said container and connected at one end to said fixture nearone 6 edge thereof and at the other end to the one side wall of saidcontainer for yieldably holding said closure in closed position, and aflap attached to said container above said recess for overlapping saidclosure and for releasably holding said closure in closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,015,625 Harrison Sept. 24, 1935 2,533,305 Wells Dec. 12, 19502,604,253 Turner July 22, 1952 2,737,312 Hamlon Mar. 6, 1956

5. IN A CONTAINER HAVING TWO SIDE AND TWO END WALLS AND TOP AND BOTTOM:MEANS DEFINING A ROUND OPENING IN THE UPPER PORTION OF ONE OF THE ENDWALLS, A PANEL MOUNTED ON THE INNER SIDE OF SAID PORTION AND HAVING AROUND HOLE THEREIN SMALLER THAN SAID OPENING AND IN CONJUNCTION WITHSAID PORTION FORMING A RECESS AROUND SAID HOLE, A CLOSURE OF PLASTICMATERIAL HAVING AN INWARDLY PROTRUDING, DOME-SHAPED BODY WITH AHEMISPHERICAL RECESS ON ITS EXTERNAL SIDE, A HANDLE EXTENDING ACROSSSAID BODY RECESS AND A LATERALLY EXTENDING ANNULAR FLANGE JOINEDINTEGRALLY TO AND DISPOSED AROUND THE EXTERNAL EDGE FOR SEATING ON SAIDPANEL IN SAID FIRST MENTIONED RECESS AND AROUND SAID HOLE, A FIXTURESECURED TO THE INTERNAL SIDE OF SAID BODY NEAR ONE EDGE, A RUBBER MEMBERDISPOSED IN SAID CONTAINER AND CONNECTED AT ONE END TO SAID FIXTURE NEARONE EDGE THEREOF AND AT THE OTHER END TO THE ONE SIDE WALL OF SAIDCONTAINER FOR YIELDABLY HOLDING SAID CLOSURE IN CLOSED POSITION, AND AFLAP ATTACHED TO SAID CONTAINER ABOVE SAID RECESS FOR OVERLAPPING SAIDCLOSURE AND FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING SAID CLOSURE IN CLOSED POSITION.